The plasma inside a fusion reactor.
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Fusion development takes time. It cannot be developed in miniature and then be simply scaled up. But we must work now, to make it possible to meet humanity’s need for abundant, clean energy.
image ljjeev.
The recently updated Integrated Resource Plan calls for significant investment in South Africa’s power supply. But can the country afford it?
Eskom power lines. South Africa’s power utility may be in a much weaker financial position than generally appreciated.
EPA/KIM LUDBROOK
A closer look into the latest financial numbers of South Africa’s state power utility, Eskom, suggest that it may be in a more vulnerable position than appreciated.
South African consumers are paying far too much for petrochemicals products.
REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
Raging debates about the state of South Africa’s energy industry have missed one critical area, the role of transport fuels and base chemicals.
Best spot in the house.
Shutterstock
You just need to apply some science.
Refreshingly radioactive?
Drink image via www.shutterstock.com.
Back in the early 1900s, if you felt a bit sluggish you could reach for a beverage enhanced with radioactive elements to really add some pep to your step. It wouldn’t be a healthy choice, though.
Koeberg power station, in Cape Town, is the only nuclear power station on the African continent. South Africa is considering a proposal to build more such power stations.
EPA/Nic Bothma
The argument put forward by Eskom that it can handle South Africa’s controversial nuclear build programme is fundamentally flawed.
Brett Ciccotelli/Flickr
New technologies that can help us to meet climate change targets are struggling to see the light of day. Incentives need to be fixed, and carbon pricing is at the heart of the matter.
Australia’s LNG exports have driven domestic gas prices higher.
AAP Image/Origin Energy
With gas prices high, coal-fired power has been increasing, which is bad news for carbon emissions.
tpmartins/Flickr
Wind and solar power can be intermittent. Should our usage be too?
Christopher Pyne, Malcolm Turnbull and Steven Marshall have all spoken out on renewables in South Australia.
Ben Macmahon/AAP
Storage is the issue politicians must deal with if we are to transition away from coal and gas based power generation.
South Africa is one of the top ten wine producing countries in the world.
Shutterstock
It takes a lot of electricity to produce wine. If the industry wants to remain sustainable, it must place more emphasis on reducing energy use.
China’s State Grid Corporation was hoping to add a majority stake in Ausgrid to its growing global network.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Energy markets are increasingly global, with growing security issues. Disengaging is not the answer.
The perfect stride of Mo Farah.
RTR GS
Elite athletes run differently to us mere mortals, but there’s nothing to stop you stealing a few of their techniques.
Tyler Shendruk
Need a tiny amount of energy? These microorganisms can help.
Blowing in the wind.
Wessex Archaeology/Flickr
A five point plan to give Britain an approach which tackles climate change while fostering growth.
Double time: Josh Frydenberg has added environment to his energy portfolio.
AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
Will merging the environment and energy portfolios result in joined-up thinking, or one set of ideas steamrollering the other?
The rays of hope are there, if you look for them.
Marcelo del Pozo/Reuters
Amid the gloom, here are some hopeful signs that we can meet our climate obligations.
There are plenty of ways to cut energy use, especially in old houses.
AAP Image/Paul Miller
There are loads of things you can do to cut your energy bills - and many don’t involve stumping up any cash up-front at all.
Controlling our homes with the tap of an app may have hidden energy costs.
Smart home image from www.shutterstock.com
Our homes are getting smarter and more connected – but at what cost to energy use?